Short Inca Trail 2-Day Hike to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train Cusco
- Duration2 days, 1 night
- Daily (except February, when the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance)
- Group
- Pickup available
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Overview
The Short Inca Trail is the best way to arrive at Machu Picchu on foot without camping. This two-day hike from Cusco starts with an early hotel pickup and the train to Km 104 of the railway, where you walk with a professional guide past the Inca sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, enjoying a picnic breakfast and lunch prepared by a chef, and reach the Sun Gate for your first view of Machu Picchu in the afternoon light. You sleep in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes after dinner, return to the citadel at sunrise for a full guided tour and travel back on the panoramic train. It is a small shared group of up to 16 hikers, with permits and entrance tickets included.
Highlights
- Hike the final section of the Inca Trail and enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
- Inca sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna on the way
- Picnic breakfast and lunch prepared by a chef, and dinner on day one
- See Machu Picchu in the late afternoon and again at sunrise
- Full guided tour of Machu Picchu on day two
- Night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Return on the panoramic train with roof windows
- Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu ticket included, small group of up to 16
Full Description
The Short Inca Trail from Km 104
The classic Inca Trail takes four days, but its final and most beautiful section can be walked in a single day. The Short Inca Trail begins at Km 104 of the railway between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, at about 2,100 metres, where you cross the Urubamba River on a footbridge and show your permit at the checkpoint. From there the original stone path climbs through cloud forest full of orchids, ferns and hummingbirds.
The hike is about 12 kilometres and usually takes six to seven hours with stops, gaining roughly 600 metres before the gentle descent to Machu Picchu. It is moderate rather than extreme, but steady fitness helps. Permits are limited and personal, so book early and send your passport details at booking. The trail closes every February for maintenance.
Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna
Right at the start of the trail stands Chachabamba, a ceremonial Inca site with fountains and baths built around a carved rock, thought to be a place of ritual purification before the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu. Your guide introduces the history of the trail here, and the morning picnic breakfast is usually served nearby.
Midway, the path reaches Wiñay Wayna, whose name means forever young in Quechua, after an orchid that grows in the area. It is one of the most beautiful sites on the whole Inca Trail: curved terraces sweep down the steep mountainside, with fountains, temples and houses with trapezoidal doorways. Your chef-prepared picnic lunch is usually enjoyed in this area, with views across the valley.
The Sun Gate (Intipunku)
The last stretch of the trail follows a gentle path along the mountainside to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, the ancient stone gateway that controlled entry to Machu Picchu. Stepping through it you see the whole citadel spread out below on its ridge, with Huayna Picchu behind, a moment many hikers call the highlight of their trip to Peru.
You arrive in the afternoon, when the day visitors are leaving and the light turns golden, so the first view is often calm and unforgettable. From the Sun Gate the path descends for about 45 minutes to the upper terraces of the citadel, where you take your first photos before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes for dinner at a local restaurant.
Machu Picchu at sunrise with a guide
After breakfast at your hotel, the bus climbs to Machu Picchu just as the sun rises, the quietest and most atmospheric time to see the site. Built in the fifteenth century as a royal estate of the Inca rulers and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, the citadel holds temples, plazas, fountains and terraces of finely fitted granite.
Your guide leads an in-depth tour, sharing the history, the engineering and the meaning of the main buildings. Afterwards you can climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain on your own if you booked those tickets in advance, as availability is very limited. Then you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for free time before the train.
Aguas Calientes and the panoramic train
Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo, is the small town in the canyon below the citadel, about 2,040 metres high, with restaurants, shops and hot springs. On this tour you spend the night here in a 3-star hotel in a shared twin room, and you have free time on day two for lunch, which is not included, before boarding the train.
The return journey is on the panoramic train, whose large side windows and roof panels show off the Urubamba canyon and the mountains as you travel to Ollantaytambo. There our bus waits to drive you back to Cusco, arriving at about 19:30 at your accommodation. Luggage storage in Cusco is included, so you only carry a daypack on the trail.
Itinerary
- Day before: briefingSafety briefing in Cusco and luggage storage, so you hike with a light daypack.
- Day 1: Pickup and train to Km 104Early pickup in Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo and train to Km 104, the start of the trail.
- Day 1: Chachabamba and Wiñay WaynaGuided hike past the Inca sites with picnic breakfast and lunch prepared by a chef, about 6 to 7 hours of walking in total.
- Day 1: Sun Gate and Machu PicchuFirst view of the citadel from the Sun Gate in the afternoon, then bus down to Aguas Calientes, dinner and hotel.
- Day 2: Guided tour of Machu PicchuBreakfast at your hotel, sunrise bus up and in-depth guided tour of the citadel, about 2 to 3 hours.
- Day 2: Optional mountain hikeClimb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain on your own if you hold tickets.
- Day 2: Panoramic train and returnBus to Aguas Calientes, panoramic train to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco, arriving about 19:30.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo
- Safety briefing the day before and luggage storage
- Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entrance ticket
- Professional guide on the trail and full guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Train to Km 104 and return on the panoramic train to Ollantaytambo, then bus to Cusco
- Bus Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes on day 1 and round-trip bus on day 2
- 1 night in a 3-star hotel in a shared twin room
- Day 1 picnic breakfast and lunch by a chef, and dinner at a local restaurant
Not included
- Lunch on day 2
- Trekking poles (can be rented)
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets (book in advance)
- Travel insurance
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- First-time visitors who want the highlights
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.8/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You prefer short outings — this takes 2 days
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- Walking is difficult for you — expect active parts
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems
- People with mobility impairments
- People with heart problems
Meeting point
Our team picks you up from your hotel in Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo very early on day one, at around 04:00 from Cusco, and confirms the exact time at the safety briefing the day before. At the end of day two the bus from Ollantaytambo drops you at your accommodation in Cusco at about 19:30. Your main luggage stays in storage in Cusco during the hike.
Important information
- Passport name, number, expiry date and nationality are required at booking for the Inca Trail permit
- Bring your original passport; it is checked at the trail checkpoint, on the train and at Machu Picchu
- Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets are not included and sell out early
- Wear light hiking boots and bring a daypack with 2 litres of water, rain gear and a warm layer
- Bring sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses, insect repellent and a change of clothes for Machu Picchu
- Lunch on day two, trekking poles and travel insurance are not included
- Smoking, littering, feeding animals and making fire are not allowed on the trail
- The Inca Trail is closed every February for maintenance
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared small-group trek of up to 16 hikers with a professional English-speaking guide.
How long is the Short Inca Trail?
About 12 kilometres from Km 104 to Machu Picchu, usually 6 to 7 hours of walking with stops on day one.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, from hotels in Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, with drop-off in Cusco at the end of day two.
What is included?
Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu ticket, guide, train to Km 104, panoramic train back, buses, one night in a 3-star hotel, picnic breakfast and lunch and dinner on day one, and safety equipment.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is per person. The booking panel on this page shows the current price.
How difficult is the Short Inca Trail?
Moderate: a long day on stone steps with about 600 metres of climbing. Anyone with regular fitness who walks at a steady pace can do it.
Is it suitable for children or people with reduced mobility?
Minors must travel with an adult. The trek is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, back or heart problems or for pregnant women.
What should I bring?
Passport, hiking boots, a daypack with 2 litres of water, rain gear, a warm layer, sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera and some cash.
Do I need to book Inca Trail permits in advance?
Yes. Permits are limited and issued with your passport details, so book as early as you can, especially for May to September.
What is the best time to hike the Inca Trail?
May to September is the dry season with the clearest views; April and October are quieter and green. The trail is closed in February.
What happens in bad weather?
The trek runs in rain, so pack rain gear. In the rare case of closures for safety, our team contacts you with the alternatives.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date, book online and send your passport details. Our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes and arranges your briefing in Cusco.
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